Octagon March, 2016

(Noosa). This car has a very interesting history
in that it was originally owner by Robin Orlando
(Orlando Wines?) and raced for him for a number
of years by Ralph Sachs. It was clocked on the
Bathurst straight at 125 mph. The full history was
in an article of MG World and Thoroughbred and
Classic Magazines, so I will not cut across their
bows with any of its racing history and story. When
Frank purchased it from Robin’s daughter, it only
had 5000 miles on the speedo and not much of that
would have been road use. Frank won the Club’s
Concours with it at the 2014 event at St. Lucia. I
did not know that he was/is a member of our Club.
Frank does have a lead foot. He also has a V8
powered MGA and a collection of other interesting
toys.
• Competition Seats *
• Sway Bar *
• Adjustable lever arm rear shock absorbers
(very rare)
*available as optional extras at a price
Harry was clocked at 130 mph down the back
straight of Bathurst and he also competed at
Lakeside and Lowood. I was in a number of races
at Lowood with him and Bev Fleming. Once again I
was way back in the field thinking to myself “I have
to get one of those Twin Cams.” What was stopping
me? Money, by that I mean the lack of it.
YD2 #2270 (Roadster) Iris Blue. Frank Moore
(Brisbane) recently sold to a club member in
Melbourne. Queensland history scratchy and
unconfirmed.
YD2 #2306 (Roadster) Old English White . Bev
Fleming (Gympie), Dan Casey (Clontarf) and
possibly Kay Hawley (Information supplied in Item 1)
YD5 #2325 (Coupe) Orient Red then restored in a
Ford Blue by Brian Barford (Gold Coast). This Twin
Cam was purchased by Brian from a South African
who had just settled on the Gold Coast hence the
YD5 number. Brian installed Engine No. 636 into this
coupe from YD2 #1717 (refer information in Item 2)
and won a number of National and Local Concours
with it before selling it to a private collector for
$62,000. This car is now somewhere in NSW.
YD2 #2414 (Coupe) British Racing Green. Harry
Cape (Bardon) Rodney Ireland (Oakey) This car
also has a very interesting history. Harry ordered this
coupe from Australia (refer Item 7) to be collected,
driven and raced in England before returning it to
Australia on 26th February, 1960. Harry contacted
John Thornley at Abingdon Factory and requested
the following extras which were not standard and not
available for all and sundry.
• 1762cc Motor (competition factory motor for
serious racing)
• Close ratio Gear Box *
• H.55 Diff *
• British Racing Green paintwork (the only one
factory painted)
• Green Carpets which were fully bound in leather
• Oil Cooler *
Bev Fleming, Harry Cape and Dan Casey at Lowood in 1961/2.
(Photos from the Brier Thomas archive)
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The Octagon - March 2016